The change of stance prompted Labour health spokesman Alan Kelly to challenge Mr Harris to say whether he had confidence in Mr McGrath.

"It is completely unacceptable for a minister at the Department of Health to put anti-HPV vaccine on the public record as Mr McGrath has done," he said.

The Government has stepped up a campaign to promote the HPV vaccine after a 40pc fall-off in the numbers getting vaccinated between 2014 and 2016.

The vaccine is offered to all girls in first year in secondary school. In Ireland around 90 women die each year from the disease.

Mr McGrath had written in March 2016 to the then-health minister Leo Varadkar urging that the vaccine Gardasil be withdrawn as "a matter of priority".

At the time, the future Taoiseach rejected Mr McGrath's call, saying all medical evidence pointed to the vaccine being safe.

Some weeks later, Mr McGrath was appointed to the Department of Health.

He told the Irish Independent: "I did raise concerns about it when in opposition last year.

"I stand over the fact that I raised it because concerned parents asked me to.

"Parents have a right to voice any concerns they have relating to vaccines or any form of medication. Personally and as Minister of State, I do accept that such vaccines are a very important part of Government health strategy."